We might consider offering a higher minimum ($2K like at the Crowne?) if she bumps down the room rate?

We could do that. The hosted bar is $8.50 per call drink (frex), while the cash bar is $9.50 per. And, the catering is just something I pulled out of my hat - we could definitely bump that up. But, I think we could spend $2000 on booze and food - especially between Vortex, ND, and me.

The spreadsheet does not include gratuity, tax, or any other add-ons.

Oh, and....I don't know why anyone would really need a car? Pete, Jilli, Plei? Downtown, the bus is free. There are cabs everywhere...there's a bus from the airport, and a not-too-badly priced shuttle thing to the downtown hotels, too.

I can see where one or two cars might be nice (as I think you, me, and Pete are the only Buffista drivers in Seattle), but yeah, for the most part, it won't be needed.

But, I think we could spend $2000 on booze and food - especially between Vortex, ND, and me.

hey, I resemble that remark!

But, I think we could spend $2000 on booze and food - especially between Vortex, ND, and me.

Just what are you saying?

Well, raising the minimum by $500 is the equivalent to $12.50 per room night based on 40 room nights. So, you'd want a room rate drop of $20 before it's worth it.

I worry that the minimum ends up feeling like a hidden fee so I think it's good to minimize it. Still, I'm only staying there one night, so YMMV.

But a $2000 minimum split between 40 people, for example, is $50 and $1500 is $37.5.

Assuming every room gets the $10 Wifi, 40 rooms, 2 days of hospitality suite and minimums for catering, the Monaco's total cost comes to $280 less than the Crowne total cost (rooms and everything) [$10,190 vs $10,470].

Question: do the quoted catering costs count towards the minimums?

Question: do the quoted catering costs count towards the minimums?

Yes. And again, that was just me picking from the catering menus we can tweak up or down depending.

But, I think we could spend $2000 on booze and food - especially between Vortex, ND, and me.

Just what are you saying?

Have you met us?

Oh, I get it. Doesn't affect my back of the envelope calculations, really, but my mental picture is a bit clearer.

I didn't factor in the cost of getting the fancy rooms either side of the hospitality suite

-t, at the Crowne you can also get a nicer room, if you want (they showed us one of those).

At the Monaco, a single queen is 169, if someone wanted that.

-t, those room charges aren't borne by the group, so I don't think we need to worry about that for calculating overall costs.

Have you met us?

Hee.